Inlet Cyclones Flow Assurance

Inlet cyclones are designed to handle fluids with both high inlet momentum and a significant liquid content. Their separation characteristics are exceptional with 99% or better separation of gas from liquid.

Above left: The gas side CFD model where a central inlet feeds three cyclones through their distribution boxes. The gas exiting each cyclone transmits their swirl into the bulk of the vessel. This standard of modelling allows CFD to accurately predict the liquid droplet cut size in comparison to the sizing spreadsheet.

Above right: The liquid side of the same inlet cyclones shown above left. This CFD model includes the vortex blocking plate, the cone below it and the perforated surface where liquid exits the cyclones. At Zeta-pdm Ltd modelling the swirl inside each cyclones comes as standard.

The pathlines shown are coloured by velocity magnitude (m/s). Note that the pale blue pathlines in the inlet pipe are located in the boundary layer where the flow velocity is lower than the central core flow, coloured green.

The pathlines shown are coloured by velocity magnitude (m/s) which show the flow exiting the cyclones to be balanced.